An aviation training aid to facilitate the learning of instrument flying techniques. The device simulates problems encountered in flight when navigating by reference to a nondirectional beacon (NDB) and flying an NDB instrument landing approach. The device includes a model airplane with two functional instruments: an automatic direction finder relative bearing indicator and a compass. The model airplane is manually moved on a special table which has an inclined top and a permanent magnet concealed beneath the top. The relative bearing indicator is activated by magnetic attraction for the concealed magnet. The compass is activated non-magnetically by a weight attached to the edge of the compass card, in conjunction with the tilted attitude of the model which is caused by the inclination of the table top.
A hand-held movable airplane or boat model is equipped on an outer face with gravity actuated simulations of actual navigational instruments. Two interchangeable compass rose discs are mounted each on a separate split shaft spindle protruding from the model. One disc is asymmetrically weighted to maintain the disc in one orientation while the model, held in a vertical plane, moves and rotates to simulate routes of travel. When used with an indicator on the front center of the model, the weighted disc simulates an azimuth directional gyro. One of the spindles is bored axially to admit an indicator shaft rotatably therethrough. An indicator arrow mounted orthogonally on the outer end of the shaft aligns with an orthogonal extension on the inner end of the shaft below the model. A transparent line extends from the shaft extension through a magnetic movable simulated Non Directional Beacon (NDB) or Radio Beacon (RB) to an edge mounted pulley which maintains a weighted end of the line away from the vertical surface over which the model and NDB/RB are moved. A non-weighted compass rose held stationary by a heading control knob simulates a fixed card Automatic Direction Finder (ADF) or Radio Direction Finder (RDF). The knob, secured within a slot in the model and held against the rose by a tensioned elastic band around the base of the bored spindle, may be turned to rotate the compass rose thereby simulating a rotatable card ADF/RDF. Moving the knob away from the rose in an L-shaped slot and placing the weighted disc on the bored spindle simulates a Radio Magnetic Indicator (RMI). A second indicator may be rotatably mounted in a small bore in the outer end of the first indicator shaft. A second weighted line from the pointer of the second indicator to an elevated edge mounted NDB/RB with the first indicator and weighted disc simulates a double-barred RMI.
An aviation training aid to facilitate the learning of instrument flying techniques. Primarily designed for the application of wind drift problems associated with tracking a straight course over the ground which making an NDB (non-directional beacon) instrument landing approach. This device includes a model airplane that rotates freely through 360 degrees with a compass azimuth card pointer and ADF (automatic direction finding) card rotating on the same axis. The compass azimuth card is controlled by a vertical shaft or handle placed through the center axis, enabling the user to keep the pointer oriented to designated north while reading the airplane's heading in the cutout provided in the airplane's nose (this is the simulated magnetic heading of the aircraft). The wingtip and reciprocal bearings are also provided through cutouts string, simulating the direct bearing to the NDB radio station is also connected from the center post to the designated NDB radio station (push pin). The ADF card that revolves on top of the airplane gives a true presentation of the ADF (automatic direction finding) bearing while simulating a landing approach.
A hand-held movable airplane model is equipped on an outer face with an outer rotatable donut shaped disc and an inner stationary black circular disc. The outer disc, having compass markings, is rotated by turning a simulated OBS knob to simulate a course card. Indicator needles and flags on the stationary inner disc simulate V.O.R. and Gliode Slope indicators as they would actually appear on an airplane in similar positions and orientations to those of the model as the model is moved over a vertical surface simulating a flight pattern. All needles and flags on the model rotate on pivot pins through the inner disc. Tabs on the underside of each needle and flag are positioned beneath an elasticised band with a high friction surface. The band stretched around the periphery of the inner disc hold all of the needles and flags in place as they are oriented by hand.